Plural-valve plumbing fixture



Feb. 25, 1941. J. w. McGARRY 2,233,267

' PLURAL-VALVE PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed March 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 25, 1941. J. w. McGARRY 2,233,267

PLURAL-VALVE PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed March 22, 1940 s Sheets-Shed 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 PATENT i OFFICE I 2,233,267 'PLURAL-VALVE PLUMBING mxrmm James W. McGarry, Waterbury, -Conn., assignor toHChase Brass & Copper 00. Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation Application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,312 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-111) The present invention relates to improvements in plumbing fixtures and more particularly to plumbing fixtures having two or more valves, each of which requires distinct piping connectionsbut which feed water to a common outlet.

Among the many objections to plural-valve plumbing fixtures as ordinarily constructed is the difficulty of securing the desired positioning of the fixture with respect to a wall surface without repeated cuts and tries.

A further handicap of plural-valve plumbing fixtures as heretofore produced has been the great difficulty of accommodating the rigid fixture to a plurality of pipes, the terminals of which are positioned at varying distances from a wall surface. I

A further Objection of prior plural-Valve plumbing fixtures which may be here mentioned resides in the fact that such fixtures are not readily installable at different distances from a wall surface in order to adapt themselves to escutcheons or cover plates of varying depth and design.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior plural-valve plumbing fixture which may be readily and conveniently installed at varying distances from a wall surface. 6

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior plural-valve plumbing fixture which may be readily and conveniently coupled to a plurality of pipes or the like despite differences in degree of projection of such pipes or the like with respect to a wall surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior plumbing fixture of the character referred to which may be readily and conveniently positioned at varying distances from a wall surface in order to accommodate escutcheons vor other covering means of varying depths and designs.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a pluralvalveplumbing fixture embodying the present invention and shown in conjunction with a portion of a wall-structure and associated piping;

Fig. 2 is a view mainly in horizontal section on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1, with some of the parts in plan;

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 in general character save that the escutcheon is omitted and the distributing-head is stripped of its valves;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the distributinghead of the structure of the preceding figures and viewing the same mainly from the rear;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding view but viewing the distributing-head mainly from the front;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the templates; 15

Fig. 8 is a view generally corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the distributinghead of the structure of Fig. 8 and viewing the same mainly from the rear.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, a hollow distributing-head 20 is employed which may be conveniently produced by casting, preferably from brass or other suitable corrosion-resistant material. The particular distributing-head shown is of bar-like ap- .pearance in general and has two cylindricallycontoured hollow end-portions 2| and 22 respectively at its opposite ends. 30

Coaxial with the hollow cylindrically-contoured end-portion 2| of the distributing-head 20, the said distributing-head is formed with an integral hot-water-valve-receiving portion 23 which projects partly rearwardly from the front wall of the. said distributing-head into the interior thereof and partly forwardly from the said front wall, as is especially well shown in Fig. 2. The said hot-water-valve-receiving portion 23 is formed internally with threads 24 which are engaged by threads 25 formed upon the exterior of ,a valve-head 26 constructed and arranged to control the flow of hot-water into the interior of the distributing-head, in a manner as will more fully appear.

The valve-head 26 just above referred to, is provided with a rigid forwardly-projecting valvestem 21 provided at its exposed forward end with an operating-handle 28 by means of which the valve-head 26 may be advanced and retired. The part of the hot-water-valve-receiving portion 23 which extends forwardly of the distributing-head 20 is externally threaded as shown for the reception of a packing-nut 29 and an escutcheonretaining nut 30. The valve-stem 21 extends pressible packing-gasket 3i and a gasket-retaim' ing washer 32. The washer 32 just referred to, is seated against the forward edge of the'tubular hot-water-valve-receivirrg portion 23, and the said packing-gasket 3| is interposed between the outer face of the said washer 32 face of the packing-nut 23.

Arranged axially in line with the hot-watervalve-receiving portion '23 of the distributinghead 23 is a 'rearwardly-proiecting hot-waterinlet coupling-portion 33 formed integral with the said distributing-head and projecting rearwardly from the rear wall thereof. The said hot-water-inlet coupling-portion 33 is of tubular form and its rearmost part is slightly reduced in diameter to provide a smooth unthreaded cylindrically-contoured exterior surface 34 for close telescopic interfltting within the forward terminal-portion of a horizontal hot-water-supply tube 35 in a manner as will be more fully hereinafter described. The "close" or "snug telescopic-interfltting should be of such character as to provide for the capillary flow'of solder or other cementing material between the opposed surfaces. I

The forward part of the tubular couplingportion 33 above referred to, is internally threaded to receive a replaceable tubular valve-seat 36 with the forward edge of which the rear face of the valve-head 26 may be engaged to shut off the ingress of hot-water into the hollow interior of the distributing-head 23.

concentrically with the other cylindricallycontoured end-portion 22 of the distributing-head 20, the said distributing-head is formed with an integral tubular rearwardly-projecting coldwater-inlet coupling-portion 31. The rear portion of the said coupling-portion 31 is contracted in diameter and Drovidesa smooth unthreaded exterior surface 38 sized and proportioned to snugly telescopically interflt within the forward terminal of a horizontal cold-water-supply tube 33, all in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear. Threaded within the enlarged front part of the coupling-portion 31 is a replaceable tubular valve-seat 43, the forward edge of which is adapted to be engaged by the rear face of a alve-head 4| to shut oil the inflow of cold-water into the interior of the distributing-head 23 from the cold-water-supply tube 33.

The valve-head 4|, Just above referred to, corresponds in all essentials to the valve-head 26 before described and is threadedly mounted in a cold-water-valve receiving portion 42 formed integral with the distributing-head 26 and corresponding in all essential respects to the hotwater-valve-receiving portion 23 thereof.

Associated with the forwardly-projecting part of the portion 42 of the distributing-head 23 is an-escutcheon-retaining nut 43 corresponding to the escutcheon-retaining nut 33. Also associated with the said portion 42 of the distributing-head 23 is a packing-nut 44 corresponding to the packing-nut 23. The valve-head 4| before referred to and which serves to control the flow of coldwater into the distributing-head 23, is provided with a valve-stem 45 carrying at its exposed forward end an operating-handle 46. 7

Midway between the -hot-water-inlet couplingportion 33 and the cold-water-inlet couplingportion 31, the distributing-head 23 is formed with an integral tubular rearwardly-proiecting mixed-water-outlet coupling-portion 41 substan-- tially corresponding to the said coupling-portions and the inner 33 and 31 and having a smooth unthreaded cylin drically-contoured exterior surface 43 constructed and arranged for snug telescopic interengagement within the forward terminal of a horizontal mixed-water-outlet tube 43 located intermediate the hot-water-supply tube 35 and the cold-watersupply tube 33.

On its forward face the distributing-head '20 is preferably formed with two forwardly-facing escutcheon-seats 63 and 5| respectively surrounding the respective bases of the'forwardiyprojecting parts of the hot-water-valve-receiving portion 23 and the cold-water-valve-receiving portion 42 of the said distributing-head 20.

Fitting over the front of the distributing-head 23 is an escutcheon 62 having a front-wall 53 and a skirt 54 rearwardly projecting therefrom and normally having its rear edge seated against the front surface of a wall-structure 55. The front wall 53 of the escutcheon 62 is provided with two laterally-spaced-apart perforations 56 and 51 providing respectively for the clearance of the forwardly-projecting parts of the hot-watervalve-receiving portion 23 and the cold-watervalve-receiving portion 42 of the distributinghead 23. Preferably the rear faces of the portions of the escutcheon 62 surrounding the perforations 66 and 61 therein, respectively bear against the escutcheon-seats and 5| of the distributing-head 23. The said escutcheon 52 is retained in place by the escutcheon-retaining nuts 33 and 43 before described.

For the purpose of laterally stabilizing the various tubes 35. 33 and 43. one or more so-called templates is preferably employed. In the structure shown particularly well in Figs. 2 and 3, both a front template 56 and a rear template 53 are employed. Each of the templates 53 and 63 is formed with three laterally-spaced-apart tubular collars 60 which are interiorly sized to snugly telescopically receive the adjacent one 'of the tubes 35, 33 and 43. The template 58 preferably has its collars 60 projecting forwardly and may be secured in any suitable manner to the front face of the wall-structure 55 before referred to. The-rear template 63 preferably has its collars 63 projecting rearwardly and the said template may be secured to the rear face of the wall-structure 56 or it may be supported directly upon the usual studding forming a feature of wall-structures.

The respective tubes 35, 33 and 43 are by means of the templates 53 and 53 positioned in arouate laterally-spaced-apart parallel relationship corresponding to the spacings of the rearwardlyprojecting coupling-portions 33, 31 and 41 of the distributing-head 23. The said tubes 35, 33 and 43 may also be stabilized against axial displacement, if desired, by sweat-soldering each of the said tubes to each of the collars 60 through which such tube may extend.

The various tubes 35, 33 and 43 may be connected at their rear ends into appropriate features of a plumbing system in manners which may vary in accordance with the exigencies of any given situation.

As shown, the .rear end of the hot-watersupply tube 35 is coupled to an elbow 6i curving downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and having its lower end, in turn, connected to a vertical hot-water-supply tube 62 leading upwardly from a suitable source of hot-water.

Similarly, the cold-water-supply tube 33 has its rear end connected to a downwardly-and-rean wardly-curved elbow 63 which in turn ha its lower end connected to a vertical cold-watersupply. tube 84 leading upwardly from a suitable source of cold-water.

In a manner similar. to that described above in connection with the tubes 38 and 99, the rear end of the mixed-water-outlet tube 49 is connected to the adjacent end of an elbow 85 which in this particular instance, however, curves rearwardly-and-upwardly and has its upper terminal connected to a vertical mixed-water-outlet tube 66 leadin upwardly to a shower-head or the like.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that by adjusting the valve-head 29 with respect to its valve-seat 39 and the valve-head 4| with respect to its valve seat 40, the temperature of the mixed water flowing outwardly from the distributing-head 20 through its tubular couplingportion 41, may be varied as desired.

The normal and economical procedure in plumbing installations consists in installing the vertical tubes 62, 64 and 66 together with their respective elbows 6|, 63 and 65 and the respective horizontal tubes 35, 39 and 49 in a manner which is commonly referred to in the art as roughing in. In this roughing in operation far more often than not the vertical tubes '62, 64-and 66 or their equivalent are located and rigidly fastened at varying distances back of the surface of the wall-structure 55 or the wall-surface intended to be occupied by an as-yet incomplete wall.

Under the circumstances just referred to, which are the usual circumstances, the horizontal supply-tubes 35, 39 and 49 will project beyond the front surface of the wall when the same is completed to varying degrees depending on the particular location of their associated vertical .tubes 62, 64 and 66, as is illustrated particularly well in Fig. 2. I

Despite the varying projections of the horizontal tubes 35, 39 and 49, the distributing-head 20 may have its coupling-portions 33, 31. and".

telescoped into the interior of the said tubes res-pectively to the varying degrees required by a particular situation. The distance of the distributing-head 20 may thus be varied as required to accommodate various situations or to place it at a standard predetermined distance from the wall-surface; Thus by reference to Fig. 2 is will be seen that the rear face of the distributinghead 20 may be moved inwardly to occupy the position represented by the broken lines 61 or even further towards the wall-surface. On the other hand, the said distributing-head may be 68 may be accommodated.

After the distributing-head 29 has been positioned at any one of the desired distances from the wall-surface the coupling-portions 33, 31 and 41 thereof may 'be conveniently sweat-soldered to the interfitting surfaces at the forward ends 01. the tubes 35, 39 and 49 respectively, prior to the application of the escutcheon.

In the above manner the distributing-head 29 may be readily accommodated to varying degrees of projection of the tubes 35, 39 and 49 and still be arranged in parallelism with the wall-surface as is necessary for a workmanlike installation. Furthermore, the distributing-head 20 may be shifted toward or away from the wall-surface within appreciable limits prior to its actual soldering in place, in order-to accommodate escutcheons of varying depths of skirt.

In the structure of Figs. 8 and 9, a distributing-head I is employed which corresponds to the distributing-head 20 before described in connection with the structure of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, save that it is provided with a hotwater-inlet coupling-portion 'II, a cold-waterinlet coupling-portion l2 and a mixed-water-outlet coupling-portion 13 of female character rather than male character as is the case with the structure of the preceding figures.

Each of the coupling-portions ll, 12 and 13 of the distributing-head is provided with a smooth interior cylindrically-contoured unthreaded surface 14 for telescopic interfltting respectively with the smooth unthreaded terminal of an adjacent tube.

The said distributing-head I9 is associated with a wall-structure 15, with an escutcheon I6 and with other features corresponding to those shown and described in connection with the structure of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and for purposes of convenience, bearing similar reference characters save that the reference character a has been added thereto.

It will be understood that after having had its coupling-portions ll, 12 and I3 telescopically interfitted respectively with the tubes 35a, 39a and 49a, the said coupling-portions may be sweatsoldered or otherwise cemented to their complemental tubes. I.

. The i vention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

I. A plural-valve plumbing fixture construction comprising: a wall-structure; a plurality of substantially-parallel pipes or the like extending in said wall-structure and having cylindricalsurfaced end portions; and a hollow distributinghead having a plurality of control-valves and a plurality of substantially-parallel tubular coupling-portions rigid with 'and non-adjustable relatively to said distributing-head; each said tubular coupling-portion being axially aligned with one of the said pipes or the like and having a cylindrical-surfaced portion in non-threaded telescopically-interfitted soldered relation with the cylindrical-surfaced portion of one of the said pipes or the like.

2. A plural-valve plumbing fixture construction comprising: a wall-structure; a plurality of substantially-parallel pipes or the like extending in said wall-structure and beyond the front surface of said wall-structure and ending in cylindrical-surfaced end portions; and a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of controlvalves and a plurality of substantially-parallel tubular coupling-portions rigid with and nonadjustable relatively to said distributing-head: each said tubular coupling-portion being axially relatively to said distributing-head;

aligned with one a: the said pipes or the like and having a cylindrical-surfaced portion in nonthreaded telescopically-interfltted soldered relation with the cylindrical-surfaced portion of one of the said pipes or the like.

3. A plural-valve plumbing fixture construction comprising: a wall-structure; a template having a plurality of holes therethrough;- a plurality of substantially-parallel pipes or the like 4. A plural-valve plumbing fixture construction comprising: a wall-structure; a template fastened to said wall-structure and having a plurality of holes therethrough with collars sur rounding said holes; a plurality of substantiallyparallel pipes or the like extending through said holes and collars of the template and fixedly secured to said template and extending in said wall-structure and having cylindrical-surfaced end portions; and a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of control-valves and a plurality of substantially-parallel tubular couplingportions rigid with and non-adjustable relatively to said distributing-head; each said tubular coupling-portion being axially aligned with one of the said pipes or the like and having a cylindrical-surfaced portion in non-threaded telescopically-interfitted soldered relation with the cylindrical-surfaced portion of one 01' the said pipes or the like.

JAMES W. McGARRY. 

